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UNITED   STATES   DEPARTMENT   OF   AGRICULTL 

STATES  RELATIONS  SERVICE. 
A.    C.    TRUE,    Director. 


HOW  TEACHERS  IN  RURAL  ELEMENTARY  SCHOOLS  MAY 
USE    FARMERS'    BULLETIN    779,    HOW    TO    SELECT    A 
.    SOUND  HORSE. 

Range  of  use. — General. 

Relation  to  course  of  study. — This  bulletin  should  be  used  in  con- 
nection with  the  study  of  the  care  and  management  of  farm  animals. 
It  is  highly  important  that  the  prospective  farmer  should  know  a 
good  sound  animal  when  he  sees  it.  He  should  form  the  habit  of 
looking  for  good  points  and  defects  in  animals. 

Topics. — The  material  in  the  publication  should  be  grouped  into 
eight  lesson  topics:  (1)  Regions  of  the  horse,  page  4,  figure  1;  (2) 
stable  vices — general  appearance,  pages  3-7;  (3)  learning  to  tell  the 
age  of  a  horse,  figures  2  to  10  and  accompanying  legends;  (4)  fore- 
parts— head,  mouth,  muzzle,  face,  eyes,  ears,  poll,  neck;  (5)  fore- 
parts— shoulders,  chest,  forelegs;  (6)  the  barrel  or  body;  (7)  the 
hind  parts — hind  quarters,  hind  legs,  hock;  and  (8)  the  horse  in 
action — lameness,  walking,  trot,  easy  gaits,  canter,  testing  the  wind, 
adaptability  for  specific  kinds  of  work,  vices. 

Study  questions. — Topic  1 :  The  teacher  should  reproduce  on  the 
blackboard  the  drawing  showing  the  regions  of  the  horse.  Give  the 
pupils  a  thorough  drill  on  locating  and  naming  the  regions. 

Topic  2 :  What  are  the  symptoms  or  indications  of  wind  sucking  ? 
Of  stable  kicking?  Of  stall  walking?  Of  weaving?  What  charac- 
teristics indicate  that  a  horse  is  in  good  health  ?  Give  directions  for 
examining  a  horse.  How  is  the  height  of  a  horse  determined?  What 
is  a  "  hand "  ?  What  two  temperamental  extremes  are  found  in  horses  ? 
What  are  some  indications  of  a  desirable  temperament?  Summarize 
the  indications  of  good  quality.  What  are  the  most  common  colors 
of  horses?  Which  are  most  desirable?  Which  are  undesirable? 
What  are  the  most  useful  years  of  a  horse's  life? 

Topic  3 :  Have  the  pupils  learn  the  appearance  of  a  horse's  mouth 
at  different  ages.  The  pupils  should  be  given  as  much  practice  as 
possible  in  judging  the  ages  of  horses  in  the  community.  Horses  the 
ages  of  which  are  definitely  known  should  be  used. 

Topic  4:  What  are  the  characteristics  of  a  good  head?  Compare 
such  a  description  with  horses  in  the  community.  Examine  the 
mouths  of  horses  in  the  community  for  defects.  What  is  the  muzzle  ? 
What  might  scars  about  the  lips  indicate  ?  What  do  blemishes  about 
the  face  indicate  ?    Give  directions  for  testing  the  eyes.    What  defects 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  FLORIDA 

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about  the  eyes  should  be  noted?  Give  the  characteristics  of  a  de- 
sirable ear.  What  defects  of  the  ear  should  be  looked  for?  What  is 
poll  evil  ?  Give  the  qualities  of  a  desirable  neck.  Point  out  horses  in 
the  community  that  have  desirable  and  undesirable  necks. 

Topic  5:  What  is  indicated  by  short  shoulders?  Straight  shoul- 
ders? Sloping  shoulders?  What  is  fistula?  Sweenied  shoulders? 
What  are  the  characteristics  of  a  good  chest?  Point  out  horses  in 
the  community  that  have  forelegs  taking  approximately  the  direc- 
tions of  those  shown  in  figure  15.  In  figure  16,  name,  locate,  and 
give  symptoms  of  the  diseases  of  the  foreleg. 

Topic  6:  Describe  a  desirable  barrel  or  body.  Point  out  in  the 
community  horses  conforming  to  such  a  description.  What  blemishes 
may  be  found  on  the  body  ? 

Topic  7 :  What  qualities  in  the  hind  quarters  are  desirable  in  a 
draft  horse?  A  light  horse?  Examine  figures  27  and  28.  Compare 
these  with  the  conformations  of  horses  in  the  community.  Xame, 
locate,  and  give  indications  of  blemishes  and  diseases  of  the  hind  legs. 

Topic  8 :  Xame  the  different  gaits.  How  is  each  executed  by  the 
horse  ?  For  what  is  each  valuable  ?  Observe  horses  in  action  to  study 
gaits.  Give  directions  for  testing  the  wind.  What  are  the  symptoms 
of  heaves?  Name  some  of  the  more  common  vices  of  horses.  These 
should  be  guarded  against  in  purchasing  a  horse. 

Illustrative  material. — The  illustrations  in  this  publication  should 
be  utilized  in  connection  with  the  study  of  the  topics.  When  practi- 
cable, examine  horses  in  the  community  in  connection  with  the  study 
of  the  several  topics. 

Practical  exercises. — Studying  animals  in  connection  with  the  sev- 
eral topics  affords  valuable  practice. 

Correlations. — Have  the  members  of  the  class  reproduce  the  out- 
line showing  the  regions  of  the  horse.    Number  and  name  the  regions. 

Arithmetic:  Make  a  horse  survey  of  the  community.  Ascertain  the 
number  and  value  of  the  draft,  roadster,  and  light  animals.  Find  the 
total  value  of  all  horses  in  the  community. 

Geography:  To  what  extent  are  horses  raised  in  the  community' ? 
What  types  and  breeds  are  raised?  If  there  is  a  surplus,  what  sec- 
tions of  the  country  afford  markets?  If  the  community  does  not  raise 
a  sufficient  number  of  horses  for  its  own  use.  in  what  States  or  sec- 
tions are  the  additional  horses  purchased?  Estimate  the  amount  of 
money  that  comes  in  or  goes  out  of  the  community  as  the  result  of 
selling  or  buying  horses. 

E.  A.  Miller. 
Specialist  in  Agricultural  Education. 

Approved : 

C.  H.  Lane. 

Chief  Specialist  in  Agricultural  Education. 

March  31,  1917. 


WASHINGTON  :  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE  \  1917 


